Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 97275 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 486(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97275 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 486(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
The second mistake was trusting Corinne. When I saw her, I really thought she loved my brother. I was the one who told him that she looked like she loved him, and look where that landed him. He was likely going to be stuck with this crazy bitch for the rest of his life due to the fact that she’s indeed pregnant.
We have yet to determine whether the child she carries is actually his though. Tomorrow we’re set to go see my parents. During the circus that Bennett and I call life, mom called. It was almost as if she had a sixth sense for trouble. Max will be meeting them for the first time in the middle of a shit storm. Lucky him.
After getting Bennett another blanket, I headed into Max’s bedroom. Alpha went and laid down next to the door, as per his usual routine, no matter where he was. Max lay in the middle of the bed. He was on his stomach with his face turned away from me. His casted arm was hanging over the side of the bed, as was his leg. The rest of his body was covered with the big micro suede comforter concealing the rest of his body from my view.
Learning from my earlier mistake, I said, “Max.”
He came awake with a start, his head whipping around to look at me. His eyes were clear and very much aware. How he was able to be so clearheaded when I’d just woken him from a dead sleep was anybody’s guess.
His sleep-roughened voice filled the silence. “Come ‘ere.”
I shivered a little, but obeyed. Stripping off my jeans, I walked slowly towards the bed. In nothing but a thong and t-shirt, I crawled into the bed and settled under the covers. Max pulled me closer and I rested my head on his bicep as he spooned me from behind.
“I’m sorry. We’ll figure this out, Payton. Your brother is a strong man, and he can handle this. Go to sleep.” Max said.
I rolled my eyes at his high handedness, but was actually secretly grateful. His words made me realize that yes, it was a big deal, but it wasn’t the end or the world. My brother was a big boy, and he could handle a lot. Things could have been worse.
Which, unfortunately, I was about to find out.
Chapter 7
What’s for dinner you ask? Go to hell with a side of make-it-yourself.
-E card
Payton
I still remember as if it was yesterday.
My boyfriend at the time, John, came to pick me up for the senior prom. My mom helped me pick the dress out, and I felt like a fairy princess. I was even wearing a push-up bra. I’d planned to lose my virginity that night, but nothing could have been further from the truth.
John showed at the house right on time. I was just coming down the stairs when my dad told John to have me home by eleven. We’d argued, but he held firm since he knew that the senior prom would end by ten-thirty. That would give him thirty minutes to get me home
We thought we’d be sneaky and leave the prom early so we could go to a secluded spot near the river. There we would do what we’d wanted to do for months now, and then he could have me home in time for my curfew. Everything was working out as planned. We’d gotten to the river, and were just about to get down to business when there was a tapping at my window.
I was in the process of putting the condom on John when I looked over to see my father staring at me, disappointment in his eyes. Mortification couldn’t even begin to describe what I felt in that moment. Although he couldn’t see what I was doing, he could darn well guess, and guess he did.
I’d never saw John again after that night until two years later. I’d confronted him, and he told me about my dad’s visit to him the next day. He didn’t go into details, but I didn’t need them, I could guess. My imagination was incredible. Needless to say, it wasn’t a nice visit, and John declined to see me ever again. He even went as far as moving in with his dad, who lived two states away.
“Payton, you need to relax. Your father isn’t going to hurt him.” My mom said from across the kitchen island.
“How do you know? Do you remember John? I swear daddy paid him off so he would leave and never come back.” I insisted.
I watched as my mom went from the cake she was frosting to the oven to check on the chicken that was baking. “Your father didn’t do anything to John. Your father never liked John anyway. He ran that background check on him and found out he had a record. Did you know he was charged with a misdemeanor because he stole something from an electronic store? He should be in prison right now.”
“Mom, he got caught stealing a candy bar. I would hardly call that something that deserved prison time.”
“Stealing is stealing honey. Now why did your brother stay with you last night?” She asked trying to divert my attention.
I allowed this. My mom was a freakishly smart woman. She and my father have been married going on thirty years now. I was their oopsie baby. My brother likes to tell me that I was the reason they had to get married in the first place. They met while my dad was in basic training, and married by proxy while he was deployed. When my dad got home, he had an instant family. I was six weeks old the first time he met me. He made up for it though. From then on, he was an integral part of our family. He was the type of dad that knew your every move, even before you made it.
“Max wants to get married.” I blurted.
“We know. Your young man stopped by this morning to speak with your father. He also told us what happened with Benny last night, too. Now, that was something we should have heard from you and Benny last night. Not when you both finally worked up the courage.” She chided.